From an Espresso Bomba to Mixed Nuts

A potential business client says to you, "Hey, let's talk this out over coffee!" You say, "No, let's get a beer!" A Caffé Calabria barista pops out of nowhere and says, "Stop. You, on the left: Have your people contact his people, then come here and let our people serve you coffee and beer together." Yes-North Park's premier Italian cafe and coffee bean roaster (933 30th St.) serves a beverage called the "Espresso Bomba," a shot of espresso that you drop into a pint of Guinness. It's filling, energizing and, if you like the kind of porous foam that you get with a root beer float, it's got that, too. Just make sure you wrap up your meeting before 3 p.m. so the baristas don't shuffle you out to make room for the dinner crowd. caffecalabria.com---

Digable to-do

Feel like getting a dose of high culture? Then head to the Neurosciences Institute (10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive in La Jolla) at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, for Ruby Red Cabaret Dances:Mixed Nuts. The dance concert is the first in a year-long series of performances that will celebrate four decades of San Diego Dance Theater. Mixed Nuts will feature two classic pieces and one world premiere with choreography by Jean Isaacs, Joe Goode and Gabe Mason. To keep spirits high, there'll be wine, a dinner buffet, an after-show desserts and live music. Tickets for the classy affair range from $10-$45. If you can't make this one, there'll be another performance on Sunday, Jan. 15. sandiegodancetheater.org

Digable art

Ruth Wallen's new series of work looks at the growing number of threatened and endangered species in San Diego County. Through photo-murals, journals, sketchbooks and more, Wallen builds memorials to particular natural sites that are quickly disappearing because of new development. The show, Cascading Memorials: Urbanization and Climate Change in San Diego County, opens from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library (1008 Wall St. in La Jolla). The show is part of a trio of exhibitions that include oil paintings by local artist Iris Gill and an exhibition of Ed Ruscha's books, as part of the huge Pacific Standard Time series of exhibitions happening throughout Southern California. Click here for more info.

Digable eats

There's something about a corner restaurant with big windows that's cozy and inviting. Case in point: Zensei Sushi (3396 30th St. in North Park), where you can see hip couples hunched over plates of creative rolls and excellent sashimi. If you go, make sure to order the delish garlic and ginger edamame and the tasty tempura avocado slices. On that note, vegetarians won't have to worry about settling for a plate of cucumber rolls here-there are plenty of fish-free options, like the roasted-vegetable-filled Megan Roll. Happy hours are long and many-noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and all day Sunday. Check out Zensei's Facebook page.

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